Mark Andrews appealed against his conviction for causing actual bodily harm. In November 2010 he won his appeal. The appeal judge said he was satisfied that Sgt Andrews did not intend to throw Ms Somerville into the cell and that injuries she suffered "were probably caused by her falling to the floor after letting go of the door frame.

A police sergeant who assaulted a woman in a police cell was today jailed for six months.

Sergeant Mark Andrews was caught on CCTV dragging Pamela Somerville, then 57, across the floor of Melksham police station, in Wiltshire, before shoving her into the cell. She needed stitches to a head wound and said that as she was driven to hospital by ambulance she feared she was going to die.

Passing sentence, deputy district judge Peter Greenfield said Andrews, 37, had abused his position of trust and only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

"In my view, you presided over an atmosphere of bullying and intimidation upon Ms Somerville which culminated in the cell later that morning.

"I regard that a gross breach of trust placed upon you by Ms Somerville. I consider that right-thinking members of the public will be appalled and totally saddened by your actions as a police officer."

Somerville, who is 158cm tall (5ft 2in), was arrested in July 2008 after being found sleeping in her car near her Wiltshire home.

Andrews, a 191cm-tall (6ft 3in) former soldier, was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm after a trial at Oxford magistrates court in July.

Today he was led from the court in handcuffs by two dock officers. Jeremy Barton, defending, immediately submitted papers for an appeal.

Andrews had been suspended on full pay after his conviction and is expected to lose his job.

In a statement before the sentencing, Wiltshire police's assistant chief constable Patrick Geenty said: "We are very concerned when anyone is injured in our custody and the court has decided that this injury was as a result of a criminal assault by Sergeant Mark Andrews, a member of Wiltshire police who was performing duty as a custody sergeant at the time.

"We respect the decision of the court and the force has formally apologised to the injured lady for the assault she suffered while in our care."

CCTV captures Sgt Mark Andrews, 37, dragging Pamela Somerville, 59, across the floor of Melksham police station in Wiltshire before shoving her into the cell. Andrews was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm and jailed for six months